Coulter: N.Y. Times Committed 'Treason'

NewsMax ^ | 6/29/06 | Phil Brennan

[wagglebee]

Ann Coulter once said that her " only regret with [Oklahoma City bomber] Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times building."

Her acid comments about America's most influential newspaper no doubt found new meaning in the wake of the Times' decision to disclose top-secret programs the U.S. government is using to capture terrorists.

"Thanks to The New York Times, the easiest job in the world right now is: 'Head of Counterintelligence -- Al-Qaida.'" Coulter wrote Wednesday in her syndicated column. "You just have to read the New York Times over morning coffee, and you're done by 10 a.m."

Coulter was writing about what she called "the latest of a long list of formerly top-secret government antiterrorism operations that have been revealed by the Times," noting that "last week the paper printed the details of a government program tracking terrorists' financial transactions that has already led to the capture of major terrorists and their handmaidens in the U.S."

To Coulter, a lawyer, that amounted to nothing less than treason, and she wants the newspaper punished for betraying a vital antiterrorism operation meant to prevent future 9/11s.

"Maybe treason ended during the Vietnam War when Jane Fonda sat laughing and clapping on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun used to shoot down American pilots," Ann recalled. "She came home and resumed her work as a big movie star without the slightest fear of facing any sort of legal sanction.

"Fast forward to today, when New York Times publisher 'Pinch' Sulzberger has just been named al-Qaida's 'Employee of the Month' for the 12th straight month.

Observing that prior to the Vietnam War, "this country took treason seriously," she charged that Americans are now being told that newspapers have a right to commit treason because of "freedom of the press."

Liberals, she wrote, invoke 'freedom of the press' like some talismanic formulation that requires us all to fall prostrate in religious ecstasy. On liberals' theory of the First Amendment, the safest place for Osama bin Laden isn't in Afghanistan or Pakistan; it's in the New York Times building."

Freedom of them press, she explained "does not mean the government cannot prosecute reporters and editors for treason -- or for any other crime. The First Amendment does not mean Times editor Bill Keller could kidnap a child and issue his ransom demands from the New York Times editorial page. He could not order a contract killing on the op-ed page. Nor can he take out a contract killing on Americans with a Page One story on a secret government program being used to track terrorists who are trying to kill Americans ...

"The federal statute on treason, 18 USC 2381, provides in relevant part: 'Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States ... adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000.'"

Citing the cases of at Ezra Pound, Mildred Gillars ("Axis Sally") and Iva Toguri D'Aquino ("Tokyo Rose") who were all charged with treason for radio broadcasts intended to demoralize the troops during World War II, Coulter wrote that the first two were were severely punished and Pound committed to a mental hospital.

"There was no evidence that in any of these cases the treasonable broadcasts ever put a single American life in danger. The law on treason doesn't require it," she wrote.

[wagglebee]

Citing the cases of at Ezra Pound, Mildred Gillars ("Axis Sally") and Iva Toguri D'Aquino ("Tokyo Rose") who were all charged with treason for radio broadcasts intended to demoralize the troops during World War II, Coulter wrote that the first two were were severely punished and Pound committed to a mental hospital.

"There was no evidence that in any of these cases the treasonable broadcasts ever put a single American life in danger. The law on treason doesn't require it," she wrote.

Right on the money!

[wagglebee]

[Guenevere]

Always worth repeating, but already posted, see sidebar.

[Guenevere]

Nevermind, yours wins :)

[Don Corleone]

'Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States ...

This is the "Times" out. They don't owe their allegiance to the United States. They owe it to the Left wing liberal socialist kook fringe...!

[hole_n_one]

Phil Brennan, by putting his name on the byline of this cut_n_paste job of a Coulter piece, should have his lazy ass fired.

[Cicero]

Pound was captured in Italy by American troops and put into a cage. He describes it in the Pisan Cantos.

He was committed to St. Elizabeth's mental hospital in Washington by his friends and admirers, including T. S. Eliot, because if he hadn't pretended to be crazy he would have been tried and executed. He was a great poet but an odd duck.

Which is what should be done in the case of the four traitors at the Times and the government traitors who leaked to them.

[spankalib]

Ann, re: Tokyo Rose & Axis Sally:

Their broadcasts were sort of like Janeane Garofalo and Randi Rhodes on Air America Radio — except Tokyo Rose was actually witty, and Axis Sally is said to have used a fact-checker.

BWAHHHHHAAAAHHHAHAHA

[guitar4jesus]

"Phil Brennan, by putting his name on the byline of this cut_n_paste job of a Coulter piece, should have his lazy ass fired."

That's what I was thinking.

[baa39]

While we're at it, can we get the traitors in Congress too?

[digger48]

[SkyPilot]

Bill Keller

"Pinch" Whathisname-homosexual-NYT

[Echo Talon]

im about 1/2 way though her new book "Godless". will try to finish it tonight... It Has some good material in it and would recomend it to everyone.

Actually I have the audiobook... I get to have Ann read it to me :)

here

[Enterprise]

bump

[wagglebee]

Actually I have the audiobook... I get to have Ann read it to me

Pervert! :-)

[JillValentine]

She reads it herself? I heard they don't always do that.

[wagglebee]

I knew her column had been posted, but this is a STORY on her column. (I guess when your Ann Coulter you get stories written recapping what you've already said.)

[hole_n_one]

If the only 3 keys functioning on my keyboard were CTRL, C and V, my cat could have written the same thing.

[spankalib]

Most of the time, I'm in the 'let 'em talk' camp....let everyone hear their drivel for what it is.

This is not one of those cases, however, and I can't say how much this has angered me. Ann makes her best point at the end, imo.....(a not-so-little poke at Bush):

What's going to be actually done about it, eh?

[Echo Talon]

She reads it herself? I heard they don't always do that.

Yep, Ann is reading the audiobook! :) nice feature. :D

[conservativecorner]

[Gritty]

Freedom of them press, she explained "does not mean the government cannot prosecute reporters and editors for treason..."

Ann's right, but what she says doesn't matter. This Administration isn't going to be prosecuting anybody for treason, much less for illegally passing classified information. Why, I simply can't figure out, except the media has them cowed.

There are going to be a whole lot more of these serious leaks as anti-Bush leakers discover they are completely immune.

[hole_n_one]

I'm waiting for the audio version where it's not simply read aloud to you, it's whispered softly in your ear......hot breath and all.

[Guenevere]

LOL....:))

[fanfan]

Freedom of them press, she explained "does not mean the government cannot prosecute reporters and editors for treason -- or for any other crime. The First Amendment does not mean Times editor Bill Keller could kidnap a child and issue his ransom demands from the New York Times editorial page. He could not order a contract killing on the op-ed page. Nor can he take out a contract killing on Americans with a Page One story on a secret government program being used to track terrorists who are trying to kill Americans ...

Ann nails it!

Ping!

Not a Canada ping, but perfect common sense.

[DuncanWaring]

This Administration isn't going to be prosecuting anybody for treason, much less for illegally passing classified information. Why, I simply can't figure out,...

Because W is a "uniter, not a divider".

< /sarcasm>

[muawiyah]

Why only 4? The NYT has a whole building full of executives, editors, writers, reporters and advertising sales people. They even have pressmen.

All should share in the punishment!

The executioners; arms should tire with the pulling of the power switch!

[DuncanWaring]

Re: my post 26 ... unfortunately, "preview" does not make it obvious one is replying to the wrong post. ;-P

[muawiyah]

If "W" and his lapdot Gonzales are going to let these people get away with treason, then it actually has come time to find a replacement who cares about treason.

[Echo Talon]

Pervert! :-)

LOL!

[martin_fierro]

[fedupjohn]

Actually I have the audiobook... I get to have Ann read it to me :)

I also have the audio book.. Love having Ann talk to me alone in my car......Oh...Oh...Oh

[Echo Talon]

LOL!!!! :D

[hole_n_one]

The lolrus

Continuing to happily running amok on FR and extinct ever since the ice age at DUmmyland.

[Enterprise]

Hey Simple Simon - Ann Coulters thinks the N.Y. Times committed treason, and I agree!

pfffffffft

[billbears]

Hey Simple Simon - Ann Coulters thinks the N.Y. Times committed treason, and I agree!

LOL, oh yeah that makes your argument so much more plausible....someone stupid enough to make statements that her " only regret with [Oklahoma City bomber] Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times building." Yeah that's who I'd go for..

But if you want to bring back the Sedition Act of 1798, under which 25 newspaper publishers were charged IIRC, be my guest. Of course those charges brought about Madison's (the Father of the Constitution) Virginia Resolution nullifying the Act, Jefferson's pardoning of the crimes, and Congress reimbursing the fees of those charged with interest be my guest...

Simple Simon? Can't you do any better than that? Seriously....

[Jameison]

"Ann Coulter once said that her " only regret with [Oklahoma City bomber] Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times building." "

Ann was as usual right on nailing the New York Slimes.
As at now, I doubt if I will shed even one tear, if these vermin at The Slimes got bombed by terrorists, who financed their operations because The Slimes leaked out vital classified national security secrets.

[Jameison]

""Thanks to The New York Times, the easiest job in the world right now is: 'Head of Counterintelligence -- Al-Qaida.'" "

Again, Ann nails it.

[Enterprise]

"Simple Simon? Can't you do any better than that? Seriously...."

Probably. But that'll suffice. I like it.

[R.W.Ratikal]

The Bush administration is not going to prosecute the NYT for a complicated set of reasons. Onc is that the NYT is a part of the one worlder group that Bush belongs to.

Ask yourself why nothing has been done by Republicans to reduce the size of government; cut spending, cut taxes (for real); kick out the United Nations; repel the Mexican invasion; restore constitutional rule of law; fight the left; etc., even though they have been in power for over a decade.

It's them against us Americans.

[R.W.Ratikal]

The Bush administration is not going to prosecute the NYT for a complicated set of reasons. Onc is that the NYT is a part of the one worlder group that Bush belongs to.

Ask yourself why nothing has been done by Republicans to reduce the size of government; cut spending, cut taxes (for real); kick out the United Nations; repel the Mexican invasion; restore constitutional rule of law; fight the left; etc., even though they have been in power for over a decade.

It's them against us Americans.

[Jameison]

"The federal statute on treason, 18 USC 2381, provides in relevant part: 'Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States ... adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, "

Now that's the part I like.. the "shall suffer death" part.
I wanna see Bill Keller hanging from the end of a very strong rope.

[Jameison]

" Onc is that the NYT is a part of the one worlder group that Bush belongs to."

Huh?
The Slimes and President Bush are in some secret group to take over the world?
Riiiiight!
Umm..did you take your meds this evening yet?

[billbears]

Well simpletons that look to Coulter for guidance probably couldn't do much better so I'll take that as your best....

[Jameison]

"someone stupid enough to make statements that her " only regret with [Oklahoma City bomber] Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times building."

In view of the treason that is carried out practically every day by The Slimes, and the determination of The Slimes to make sure Al Quaeda kills as many of us here in New York as Possible, I don't see anything wrong with Ann;''s statement at all.
Its us versus them
Much rather The Slimes people get taken out, than The Slimes cause me and my family to get killed by their constant leaks of vital , classified government anti-terrorist secrets to Al Quaeda.

[longtermmemmory]

how do we get to the advertisers?

Ford has problems with sales and is in junk bond status, how about making a issue of their advertising in the NYT?

[mathurine]

His poems didn't rhyme then, and still don't.

[gotribe]

Indeed. There wouldn't be much mourning in America over that.

[tame]

The First Amendment does not mean Times editor Bill Keller could kidnap a child and issue his ransom demands from the New York Times editorial page. He could not order a contract killing on the op-ed page. Nor can he take out a contract killing on Americans with a Page One story on a secret government program being used to track terrorists who are trying to kill Americans ...

That point cannot be overemphasized. Ann did a brilliant job, as usual. I love the following point-by-point comparison from her article (not cited above):

What if, instead of passing information from the government's secret nuclear program at Los Alamos directly to Soviet agents, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg had printed those same secrets in a newsletter? Would they have skated away scot-free instead of being tried for espionage and sent to the death chamber?

EXCELLENT Point!

Ann, the world owes you so much, and Leno should enlist you for ammo, rather than target you for attack. I LOVE you, Ann :o)

[Enterprise]

Billbears: "Well simpletons that look to Coulter for guidance probably couldn't do much better so I'll take that as your best...."

LOL - I really enjoy her work, but Mr Simon, I don't look to her for guidance. And I think a lot of people here who really like her work are not simpletons either.